Every year up to 500,000 tonnes of macro-plastics end up in the seas, 50 per cent of the daily waste produced by a citizen relates to packaging, and 40 per cent of the plastic produced in the world is made up of single-use packaging. These are the figures that Giulia Zanatta, Daniele Cagnazzo and Alberto Garuccio set out from when, last year in the midst of lockdown, they created Around, the first zero waste service aggregator in the food sector.

The startup, which has joined the LifeGate Way ecosystem — the group's subsidiary with the aim of building a network of sustainable startups focused on open innovation — is offering the Italian market a new circular model for the use of packaging. And it does so by addressing both restaurateurs and consumers.

Around's reusable packaging

As mentioned, Around was born in the midst of lockdown, when we witnessed a veritable boom in delivery and takeaway services. Restaurants that had been closed for a long time saw demand for home deliveries and takeaways grow considerably. And it is precisely here that Giulia Zanatta, Daniele Cagnazzo and Alberto Garuccio stepped in: why not devise a smart, innovative solution capable of countering the use of single-use packaging, in favour of a circular model that encourages reuse and reduces food waste? No sooner said than done. Around is betting on the circular economy and on a lifestyle that reduces the use of single-use packaging and food waste in the catering world.

And it does so through the introduction of reusable packaging in takeaway and food delivery services, and through the sale of unsold food at the end of the day at a discounted price set by the restaurants. Around containers can therefore be used multiple times and come with a QR code that links to the Aroundrs app, available on the Apple Store and Google Play.

Both restaurants and end consumers benefit from this project. The former can take out a subscription with different advantages and services depending on their needs, and reduce their environmental footprint by cutting the amount of packaging waste in takeaway and delivery services, thanks to Around's reusable containers; the latter, meanwhile, can use the app to view the restaurants that have joined the project, from which they can borrow the startup's packaging free of charge for their takeaway order and return it within seven days. Washing is handled by the restaurant itself, unless it has access to Around's additional centralised washing service.

Around's fight against food waste

But that is not all: the three founders have also devised a way to reduce food waste. The Zero food waste programme allows restaurants to publish unsold food on the app at a discounted price, optimising daily resources and broadening their customer base.

Consumers, for their part, can purchase food directly through the app and collect it in the time slot indicated by the restaurant. An excellent way to improve one's commitment to sustainability, to contribute to the fight against waste and to play an active part in change. Around is already available in Milan, but the goal by the end of the year is to reach the other major Italian cities: Turin, Bologna, Florence, Treviso.